Though most conceptions of the rule of law assume equality before the law – and hence equal access to the justice system – this basic right is not being met for many low and middle income Canadians. This book focuses on the problem of civil access to justice for middle income earners – those whose household income is high enough to disqualify them from legal aid but not high enough to cover the costs of litigation.

Featuring contributions by leading Canadian and international scholars, practitioners, and members of the judiciary, this multidisciplinary collection draws on scholarship in the fields of law, social science, and public policy. There is a particular emphasis on family law, consumer law, and employment law, as these are the areas where research has indicated that unmet legal needs are highest.

Middle Income Access to Justice presents a variety of innovative solutions, from dispute resolution process reforms to the development of non-lawyer forms of assistance and new methods for funding legal expenses. In doing so, it lays the foundation for the development of a much-needed new delivery model to provide early intervention for legal services.

Michael Trebilcock holds the Chair in Law and Economics in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.

M. Trebilcock's profile page

Anthony Duggan holds the Honourable Frank H. Iacobucci Chair in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.

Anthony Duggan's profile page

Lorne Sossin, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., LL.B., LL.M., J.S.D. is a Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, where he has been teaching since 2002. Prior to that, he was on the faculty of Osgoode Hall Law School. At the University of Toronto, he is a former Associate Dean (2004–2007) and is the inaugural Academic Director of the Centre for the Legal Profession. Professor Sossin’s areas of expertise include Civil Litigation, administrative law, the legal profession, and the legal process. He has written several books and numerous articles on these subjects, including Administrative Law in Context (co-edited with Colleen Flood) and Boundaries of Judicial Review: The Law of Justiciability in Canada. Professor Sossin is the recipient of several awards for teaching and scholarship, including the 2009 OCUFA Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Lorne Sossin's profile page

‘This book should be of great interest to everyone who is involved in the legal profession and its regulation. It is packed with influential views from influential scholars in the area.’

Saskatchewan Law Review vol 76:2013